Boy Scouts of America

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Revision as of 22:59, December 5, 2018

Boy Scouts of America

Founded: February 8, 1910 Founders: W.D. Boyce and James E. West Chief Scout Executive: Michael Surbaugh

Organization

The National Council of the Boy Scouts of America (BSA) supports 300 local councils that provide quality youth programs, including Cub Scouting, Boy Scouting, Venturing, Sea Scouting.

Purpose

From: scouting.org

The purpose of the Boy Scouts of America—incorporated on February 8, 1910, and chartered by Congress in 1916—is to provide an educational program for boys and young adults to build character, to train in the responsibilities of participating citizenship, and to develop personal fitness.

Programs

MeritBadge.Org provides BSA Program resources for

Cub Scouting

Cub Scouting is a year-round family- and home-centered program that develops ethical decision-making skills for youth in the 1st - 5th grade or age 7 - 10. Key resources include the Webelos Scout Adventures. In additional, see the program materials for Lion, Tiger, Wolf, Bear, and Webelos Scouts. Cub Scouts activities include Cub Scout Day Camp, Cub Scout Resident Camp, Den Meetings, Pack Meetings, Pinewood Derby, and Blue and Gold Banquettes. Key positions include Denner, Den Chief, Den Leader, and Cubmaster.

Scouts BSA

Scouts BSA is the year-round program for youth age 11 - 17 that achieves the Aims and Methods of Scouting through a vigorous outdoor program and youth leadership with the counsel of an adult Scoutmaster. Scouts BSA Advancement resources include Scout through Eagle ranks and merit badge information. Key topics include Summer Camp, Merit Badges, Youth Members With Special Needs, Boards of Review, Courts of Honor, Scoutmaster Conferences, Order of the Arrow, and Positions of Responsibility.

Venturing

Venturing is a year-round program for young men and women who have completed the eighth grade through 20 years of age to provide positive experiences through exciting and meaningful youth-run activities that help them pursue their special interests, grow by teaching others, and develop leadership skills. Venturing information includes Venturing Award, Discovery Award, Pathfinder Award, Summit Award, Ranger Award, Quest Award, and the TRUST Award.

Sea Scouting

Sea Scouting is a specialized segment of the Venturing program, which was organized to address members' boating skills and promote knowledge of our maritime heritage. Swimming, lifesaving, first aid, Coast Guard Auxiliary Sailing and Seamanship, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation courses are taught with the ship by its officers. Rank resources include: Apprentice, Ordinary, Able, and Quartermaster Award.

Merit Badges

MeritBadge.Org has a wealth of merit badge resources. Check out the worksheets and links on the Merit Badge Worksheets page. Did you ever wonder how many Scouts have earned Leatherwork Merit Badge? What is the most popolar? What is the most rare? The answers are at Merit Badges Earned.

Scouter Awards

There are dozens of awards for Scout Leaders. Whether you wear the knot or not, you should deliver the full qualify program these awards require.

See the Bookshelf for books and down-loadable materials.

History

Main article: Boy Scouts of America Historical Highlights

The Boy Scouts of America was incorporated on February 8 under the laws of the District of Columbia by W. D. Boyce...

Local Councils

Main article: Local Council

Each unit is supported by a BSA local council, a nonprofit corporation. The local council does not provide service directly to individual boys. Rather, it offers a program to chartered organizations that operate Cub Scout packs, providing a number of common resources for all packs in a specific geographic area. In some areas, councils divide their territory into districts, which provide direct-to-unit service to a smaller number of units.

Chartered Organizations

Main article: Chartered Organization

Community-based organizations receive national charters to use the Scouting program as a part of their own youth work. These groups, which have goals compatible with those of the BSA, include religious, educational, civic, fraternal, business, and labor organizations; governmental bodies; corporations; professional associations; and citizens' groups.

Volunteer Leaders

Volunteer Leaders serve at all levels of Scouting in more than 300 local councils, 28 areas, and four regions, and nationally with volunteer executive boards and committees providing guidance. There are a number of Scouter Awards available for adult leaders.

Each autonomous local council is chartered by the BSA, which provides program and training aids along the guidelines established by the National Executive Board and the national charter from Congress.

National Activities

• National Jamborees
• Northern Tier National High Adventure Program offers wilderness canoe expeditions and cold-weather camping
• Florida National High Adventure Sea Base offers aquatics programs in the Florida Keys
• Philmont Scout Ranch offers backpacking treks in the rugged high country of northern New Mexico

Financial Support

The National Council is supported largely through annual registration fees paid by all members, charter and service fees paid by local councils, sales of magazines and Scouting equipment, bequests, and special gifts. Local councils are supported by communities through an annual Friends of Scouting campaign, the United Way, special events, foundation grants, investment income, bequests, endowment gifts, and special contributions.

On the unit level, chartered organizations that use the Scouting program provide meeting places and often furnish program materials and other facilities. Youth members help to pay their own way by paying dues to their pack, troop, team, ship, crew, or post treasuries, and through approved money-earning projects, they can earn additional income for their units.

Membership and Units

Membership since 1910 totals more than 112 million. As of December 31, 2007, membership was:

National Office Contact Information

Mailing Address: PO Box 152079, Irving, TX 75015-2079

Physical Address: 1325 W. Walnut Hill Lane, Irving, TX 75038

Office Phone: 972-580-2267

email: [email protected]

See also

• Recruiting
• Cub Scout Packs - Boy Scout Troop - Venturing Crew - Sea Scouting Ship - Explorer Post
• World Organization of the Scout Movement

Official BSA Resources

• Boy Scouts of America main site
• Boy Scouts of America: Commissioners
• Boy Scout Joining Requirements
• Boys' Life Magazine 1.3 million copies monthly tailored for Cub Scout, Boy Scouts and older youth.
• Scouting Magazine for all registered adult leaders.
• Fieldbook Companion Site
• BSA Legal
• National Scouting Museum

How To Get Involved!

• BeAScout Locate local Scouting units
• Scouting Alumni and Friends

BSA Organizations

• National Eagle Scout Association NESA's page
• Order of the Arrow Scouting's National Honor Society for Boy Scouts

Special Interest

Buy It!

• Scout Shop
• Tooth of Time Traders (Philmont Store)

External links

Official BSA links:

• Rules and Regulations of the Boy Scouts of America (June 2018 printing) — Scouting.org
• Charter and Bylaws of the Boy Scouts of America (June 2018 printing) — Scouting.org
• BSA Racing
• A Place to Give <<<===== This link is dead as of {{{1}}}
• BSA Adopt-A-School
• Scouting Alumni Association

Non-BSA links:

• listing of rank and merit badge changes - maintained by Paul Wolf at USScouts for over a decade.
• Steve Henning's Merit Badge List with history dating back to 1911.

References

• BSA Fact Sheets — Scouting.org